The Executive Director of the Cancer Care Africa Foundation (CanCAF), Naomi Naa Oyoe Ohene Nti, has raised the alarm over a growing public health crisis, noting that Africa records over one million new cancer cases annually, a situation she says demands urgent attention.
Speaking at the official launch of CanCAF at the West Africa Genetic Medicine Centre in Accra on March 31, 2026, Ohene Nti, who won the 2025 Ghanaian Nurse Aster Global Nursing Award, emphasised the foundation’s mission to ensure equitable access to quality cancer care across Ghana and the continent.
“Our vision is clear: no African, no Ghanaian should be denied quality cancer care because of where they live,” she said, stressing that location should not determine survival chances.
Ohene Nti explained that CanCAF will achieve this through targeted capacity building, awareness creation, advocacy, policy engagement, and strategic partnerships, with a focus on prevention, early detection, treatment, and survivorship.
Describing Africa’s cancer burden as severe, she said the continent records over one million new cases and more than 700,000 deaths each year, while accessing less than 3% of global oncology resources despite carrying about 7% of the world’s cancer burden.
Turning to Ghana, she revealed that the country registers over 24,000 new cancer cases annually, with more than 15,000 deaths, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated national interventions.
As part of its launch, CanCAF unveiled its flagship initiative, the Cancer Genetic Counselling Certificate Programme for oncology nurses, aimed at strengthening specialised capacity in risk assessment, patient education, and personalised care delivery.
“The context we face demands urgent action,” Ohene Nti said, calling on government agencies, stakeholders, and development partners to support efforts to improve cancer care across the continent.
The launch of CanCAF marks a critical step toward closing gaps in cancer care, strengthening Africa’s healthcare systems, and improving survival outcomes for patients across the continent.